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Pope’s death triggers surge of disinformation he fought against

WASHINGTON: The death of Pope Francis drew tributes from mourners around the world -- and with them a wave of disinformation, old and new.Swarms of fake and misleading content interrupted the global rush of condolences that poured online for the 88-year-old Argentine reformer ahead of his funeral Saturday.The outcome was in some ways par for the course for the 12-year head of the Catholic Church, who spoke out fiercely against disinformation but was also a frequent subject of it.“The tragedy of disinformation is that it discredits others, presenting them as enemies, to the point of demonizing them and fomenting conflict,“ Pope Francis wrote in a 2018 message for World Communications Day. He likened modern-day “fake news” to the “snake-tactics” employed by the serpent in the Christian origin story described in the Bible.“There is no such thing as harmless disinformation,“ he argued. “Even a seemingly slight distortion of the truth can have dangerous effects.”Two years earlier, the pope had found himself an unwilling yet central character in one of the most prominent lies of the 2016 US presidential election, when a hoax saying he endorsed Donald Trump exploded online. The false story garnered the most engagement on Facebook of any election story in the three months before the vote, BuzzFeed News reported at the time.Several of the falsehoods that trailed his death appeared similarly aimed at misrepresenting his actions and connections.One widespread video appeared to show him swatting the hand of President Trump, whose deportation policies the pontiff had denounced. The clip was manipulated, however, and had originally aired as a joke on a comedian’s late-night TV show.Another video, claiming to show Satanic rituals on display at the pope’s funeral, turned out to be unrelated footage from Spain.In a third case, a photo of the pope meeting Holocaust survivors in 2014 was misrepresented as evidence that he was beholden to the wealthy Rothschild family, a favorite target of anti-Semitic conspiracy theories.‘Content follows attention’The rash of disinformation underscores how bad actors seeking to farm engagement or push targeted narratives work to exploit the buzz around major events.Similar campaigns followed the deaths of other public figures such as Queen Elizabeth II, whose passing in 2022 inspired false claims about vaccines and pedophilia.“In general, content follows attention,“ digital literacy expert Mike Caulfield, the author of a book about verifying information online, told AFP.“When someone dies, as morbid as it seems, people run to where the spotlight is and try to put on their show,“ Caulfield said. “For some people it’s a chance to promote an agenda, and they connect the event or the figure to whatever political cause or conspiracy theory they generally promote. For others, it’s just about the money, the trolling or the attention.”Numerous images generated by artificial intelligence -- including an AI creation of Pope Francis draped in a rainbow LGBTQ Pride flag, and the now-infamous depiction of him wearing a white puffer coat that became an internet sensation in 2023 -- also resurfaced after his death.They were joined by new fakes spread in multiple languages, one of which portrayed the pope’s body in an open casket.Some AI-enabled images circulated alongside malicious links that led to scams or fraudulent websites, according to research from Check Point, a cybersecurity company.The pope cautioned against such deception in January, saying AI technologies “can be misused to manipulate minds.”The message became one of his final warnings about disinformation.

Politics Negative

Trump Keeps Contradicting Himself on Tariffs, Making a Fragile World Economy Nervous

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump can't stop contradicting himself on his own tariff plans.

Economy Negative

Trump to offer Riyadh $100 billion arms deal, sources say

WASHINGTON: The United States is poised to offer Saudi Arabia an arms package worth well over $100 billion, six sources with direct knowledge of the issue told Reuters, saying the proposal was being lined up for announcement during US President Donald Trump’s visit to the kingdom.The offered package comes after the administration of former President Joe Biden unsuccessfully tried to finalise a defence pact with Riyadh as part of a broad deal that envisioned Saudi Arabia normalising ties with Israel.The Biden proposal offered access to more advanced US weaponry in return for halting Chinese arms purchases and restricting Beijing’s investment in the country. Reuters could not establish if the Trump administration’s proposal includes similar requirements.The White House and Saudi government communications office did not immediately respond to requests for comment. {try{this.style.height=this.contentWindow.document.body.scrollHeight+'px';}catch{}}, 100)" width="100%" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" style="height:250px;position:relative" src="https://www.dawn.com/news/card/1887171" sandbox="allow-same-origin allow-scripts allow-popups allow-modals allow-forms"> A US defence official said: “Our defence relationship with the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is stronger than ever under President Trump’s leadership. Maintaining our security cooperation remains an important component of this partnership and we will continue to work with Saudi Arabia to address their defence needs.”The US has long supplied Saudi Arabia with weapons. In 2017, Trump proposed approximately $110 billion of sales to the kingdom. As of 2018, only $14.5 billion of sales had been initiated and Congress began to question the deals in light of the murder of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi.In 2021, under Biden, Congress imposed a ban on sales of offensive weapons to Saudi Arabia over the Khashoggi killing and to pressure the kingdom to wind down its Yemen war, which had inflicted heavy civilian casualties.Under US law, major international weapons deals must be reviewed by members of Congress before they are finalised.A potential deal for Lockheed’s F-35 jets, which the kingdom has been reportedly interested in for years, is expected to be discussed, three of the sources said, while downplaying the chances for an F-35 deal being signed during the trip.Published in Dawn, April 26th, 2025

National security Positive

India, Pakistan will ‘get it figured out,’ says Trump on border tensions

Washington: US President Donald Trump refused to be drawn into India-Pakistan border tensions in the aftermath of the Pahalgam terrorist attack, stating that the two countries will “get it figured out one way or the other.” Trump had offered to mediate between India and Pakistan in his first term; however, on Friday, he refused to ...Get the latest updates in Hyderabad City News, Technology, Entertainment, Sports, Politics and Top Stories on WhatsApp & Telegram by subscribing to our channels. You can also download our app for Android and iOS.

Government Negative

Trump says he would veto cuts to Medicaid, Social Security

WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump said he would not sign legislation that calls for cuts to Social Security or federal health coverage for older and low-income Americans.

Politics Negative

Japan to resist Trump efforts to form trade bloc against China

Any demands from Washington on Tokyo to downgrade its economic relationship with China would potentially deal Japan a major economic blow.

Government Negative

Donald Trump’s Trip to Pope Francis’ Funeral Puts a Sharper Focus on Their Clashes over the Years

WASHINGTON (AP) — The day before he died, in his final public address, Pope Francis expressed an Easter Sunday message of unity and an appeal for the marginalized and migrants. "All of us," he proclaimed, "are children of God!"

Politics Negative

US pauses student visa cancellations

Washington, April 26, 2025 The United States on Friday abruptly paused the cancellation of student visas issued to international students, according to reports. Assistant US Attorney Joseph F. Carilli Jr. told a Washington DC court on Friday that Immigrations and Customs Enforcement (ICE) is developing a new system for review and revocations and until then, [...]The post US pauses student visa cancellations appeared first on Yes Punjab News.

Accidents Negative

India, Pakistan will ‘get it figured out,’ says Trump on border tensions

Washington, April 26, 2025 US President Donald Trump refused to be drawn into India-Pakistan border tensions in the aftermath of the Pahalgam terrorist attack, stating that the two countries will “get it figured out one way or the other.” Trump had offered to mediate between India and Pakistan in his first term; however, on Friday, [...]The post India, Pakistan will ‘get it figured out,’ says Trump on border tensions appeared first on Yes Punjab News.

Government Negative

US pauses student visa cancellations

Washington: The United States on Friday, April 25, abruptly paused the cancellation of student visas issued to international students, according to reports. Assistant US Attorney Joseph F. Carilli Jr. told a Washington DC court on Friday that Immigrations and Customs Enforcement (ICE) is developing a new system for review and revocations and until then, SEVIS ...Get the latest updates in Hyderabad City News, Technology, Entertainment, Sports, Politics and Top Stories on WhatsApp & Telegram by subscribing to our channels. You can also download our app for Android and iOS.

Negative

Canadiens’ Samuel Montembeault leaves Game 3, replaced by Jakub Dobes

Uh oh. With the second period ticking down in Game 3 of the Stanley Cup playoffs, Montreal Canadiens goaltender Samuel Montembeault was forced to leave the game with an apparent injury.

Sports Neutral

AP Sports SummaryBrief at 8:24 p.m. EDT

Shedeur Sanders' wait continues as teams pass on Colorado QB early in 2nd round of NFL draft

American football Neutral

Neeraj Chopra to skip Asian Athletics Championships as India name 59-member squad

India on Friday named a 59-member team for the upcoming Asian Athletics Championship in South Korea with star javelin thrower Neeraj Chopra expectedly skipping the event, with almost all those who had...

Sports Neutral

Jimmer Fredette was more than just a basketball star — for a generation of young fans, he’s a lasting folk hero

Even with his recent retirement from basketball, Fredette will live on as one of the most admired hoopers of his era.

Basketball Positive

City golf courses all open for the season

Aspen Grove hosting BC Special Olympics Summer Games tournament July 11-12

Golf Negative

NASA nominee wrote $2M in bad checks to casinos, records show

President Donald Trump’s nominee for NASA administrator, Jared Isaacman, was arrested on fraud charges in 2010 and faced lawsuits in two states for writing $2 million in bad checks to casinos, according to government records and court filings.

Politics Negative

Trump's NASA pick was once arrested, accused of passing bad checks to casinos

Jared Isaacman was sued in 2009 by the Trump Taj Mahal casino over $1 million in bad checks. The casino later settled for $650,000.

Corporate news Negative

Trump's NASA pick was once arrested, accused of passing bad checks to casinos

Politics Negative

Washington high school girls softball rankings (4/25/2025)

Baseball Neutral

Girls Lacrosse: Statewide, conference & by-grade stat leaders for Friday, April 25

A look at the top stat leaders from around the state through Thursday, April 24

Sports Neutral

ماذا يعني انهيار الدولار؟

تراجع الدولار مؤخراً بسبب الشكوك حول سياسات ترامب التجارية وتباطؤ الاقتصاد الأمريكي، مما أثر على ثقة المستثمرين. هذا الانخفاض له تبعات عالمية كونه العملة الاحتياطية الأولى، ويؤثر على التجارة الدولية وأسعار السلع الأساسية.

Awards and recognitions Neutral

'We have more in common with America than the rest of Canada'

In Alberta, many voters feel alienated by the country’s elite - some are even tempted by Trump’s call to join the US.

Politics, government Negative

No deadline but WRU want movement on new deal

WRU chief executive Abi Tierney says there will be no specific deadline for Wales' professional clubs to sign a new agreement but says they need to move soon.

Sports Neutral

लगातार मात खाती चेन्नई सुपरकिंग्स के इस खिलाड़ी से अब क्यों जताई जा रही है उम्मीद

चेन्नई सुपरकिंग्स ने एक बार फिर निराशाजनक बल्लेबाज़ी का प्रदर्शन करके 19.5 ओवर में 154 रन बनाए. 2019 के बाद यह पहला मौक़ा है, जब चेन्नई के चेपॉक पर सभी खिलाड़ी आउट हुए हैं.

Awards and recognitions Neutral

استر بالسترینو؛ زنی که نگاه سیاسی پاپ فرانسیس را شکل داد و قربانی دیکتاتوری آرژانتین شد

در آزمایشگاه هیکتیر باخمان واقع در خیابان آسکوئه‌ناگا در شهر بوئنوس آیرس، شیمیدان ۳۵ ساله‌ای به نام استر بالسترینو، مسئول تایید نتایج آزمایش‌هایی بود که تکنسین‌های جوان انجام می‌دادند.

Awards and recognitions Neutral

Virginia Giuffre, prominent Jeffrey Epstein abuse survivor, dies by suicide

Her family said in a statement that "the toll of abuse" became too heavy for her to continue lifting.

Human rights Negative

भारत क्या सिंधु और बाक़ी नदियों का पानी पाकिस्तान में बहने से रोक सकता है?

यह पहला मौक़ा है जब भारत ने सिंधु जल संधि को निलंबित करने की घोषणा की है. लेकिन सवाल ये है कि क्या भारत सिंधु और दो सहायक नदियों का पानी रोक सकता है?

Awards and recognitions Neutral

روسيا وأوكرانيا "قريبتان للغاية" من التوصل لاتفاق

وفي وقت سابق من هذا الأسبوع، أشار بوتين للمرة الأولى منذ بدء الحرب إلى أنه منفتح على إجراء محادثات مع زيلينسكي.

Awards and recognitions Neutral

'They destroyed our history': How war ravaged Sudan's museums

Sudan's national museum is among the institutions that have been looted and vandalised during the war.

Accidents Negative

دیدار ویتکاف و پوتین؛ «زمان تغییر روابط آمریکا و روسیه فرا رسیده است»

استیو ویتکاف، فرستاده ویژه رئیس‌جمهور آمریکا و ولادیمیر پوتین، رئیس‌جمهور روسیه در مسکو دیدار کردند. دستیار پوتین مذاکرات را «سازنده» توصیف کرده است. استیو روزنبرگ، از سردبیران بی‌بی‌سی در مسکو می‌گوید دیدارهای متعدد ویتکاف نشان می‌دهد زمان تغییر رویکرد در روابط دو کشور فرا رسیده است.

Awards and recognitions Neutral

Embracing Innovative Crypto Philanthropy with Lido Impact Staking for UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency

The post Embracing Innovative Crypto Philanthropy with Lido Impact Staking for UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency appeared on BitcoinEthereumNews.com.Press Releases are sponsored content and not a part of Finbold’s editorial content. For a full disclaimer, please . Crypto assets/products can be highly risky. Never invest unless you’re prepared to lose all the money you invest. Geneva, Switzerland, April 25th, 2025, Chainwire In a groundbreaking initiative to diversify funding streams amidst global financial challenges, Switzerland for UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency’s National partner for Switzerland, has partnered with Lido Impact Staking (LIS). This collaboration introduces a novel avenue for supporters to stake Ethereum (ETH), opportunities to earn staking rewards, and allocate a portion of these rewards to aid refugees worldwide. A New Horizon in Refugee Support: Crypto-Driven Philanthropy As UNHCR faces significant funding reductions, impacting millions of displaced individuals, the agency is exploring innovative solutions to sustain its humanitarian efforts. By integrating with Lido Impact Staking, Switzerland for UNHCR taps into the burgeoning world of decentralized finance (DeFi), enabling crypto enthusiasts and donors to contribute to refugee assistance without liquidating their assets. How It Works: Converting Crypto Rewards into Lifelines Lido Impact Staking allows ETH holders to: Stake ETH: Participants stake their Ethereum through Lido’s secure platform, maintaining liquidity and earning staking rewards. Allocate Rewards: Donors can designate a portion of their earned rewards to UNHCR, providing a continuous and sustainable funding source. Support Refugee Initiatives: Contributions directly aid UNHCR’s programs, including emergency relief, shelter, healthcare, and education for refugees and displaced persons globally. This method offers a sustainable giving model, allowing donors to support vital humanitarian work while retaining their principal investment. Switzerland for UNHCR and Lido Impact Staking: Pioneering Digital Humanitarianism Established in 1950, UNHCR has been at the forefront of protecting and assisting refugees, striving to ensure that every individual can seek asylum and find safe refuge. In response to evolving global challenges, UNHCR’s national partner...

Founders & investors Positive

Stacks (STX) Price Surged 21%, Hinting at Potential Recovery

The post Stacks (STX) Price Surged 21%, Hinting at Potential Recovery appeared on BitcoinEthereumNews.com.Stacks cryptocurrency begins potential reversal after multi-month downtrend, with key indicators turning bullish. STX token technical analysis shows price rebounds from the $0.50 support level, with technical indicators showing bullishness. Stacks (STX) shows positive indications of market recovery following its major price decline since December 2024. STX shows signs of establishing its bottom at $0.50 while currently maintaining a trading price of $0.90. The Stacks price reached its December high point at $2.75 but has since declined by 80% throughout the following months. Market sentiment seems to be undergoing a change based on recent price movements. The recent price rise from $0.50 support indicates a potential start of market recovery. The technical indicators display growing bullish patterns. The MACD indicator demonstrates positive momentum through its values, which signal the start of a bullish crossover. Market buying strength appears to be increasing based on this indicator data. Moreover, according to CMC data, STX price is trading at $0.9023 with an intraday surge of 21%, suggesting bullishness. Its daily trading volume has surged by 80%, currently at $225.72 million, showing an increase in buying and selling activity. Stacks (STX) Social Sentiment Turned Positive; What’s Next? The Social Sentiment indicator shows a positive reading of 0.2366 to indicate traders have better views about the market. This indicator typically signals price shifts before they occur and its current positive value matches the recent market trends. The RSI reading of 73.75 shows that STX is moving toward overbought conditions. The indicator shows that prices might continue rising before traders can trigger a possible market correction. Investors must remain watchful because assets located in overbought positions usually undergo brief price corrections. The recent upward price movement has gained credibility because technical charts show rising volume participation. The $0.50 support level has proven itself multiple times through...

Technical analysis Positive

The Graph price prediction as GRT surges 15%

The Graph (GRT) price was up 15% and above $0.10, rising as most altcoins gained. Bitcoin’s bullish flip this past week could boost altcoins, including GRT. The Graph’s price is above a key level after a breakout of a technical pattern. The Graph (GRT) has emerged as one of the standout performers in the latest...

Technical analysis, coin fundamentals Positive

Federal Reserve Relaxes Crypto Rules For U.S. Banks To Regulate Crypto

The post Federal Reserve Relaxes Crypto Rules For U.S. Banks To Regulate Crypto appeared on BitcoinEthereumNews.com.The Federal Reserve of the United States has officially announced a key development for the crypto landscape. As per the latest reports, the U.S. Federal Reserve is easing the regulations concerning crypto assets as well as the dollar-pegged digital tokens. This development takes place while the banking entities in the country are actively participating in the world of digital assets. Fed Eases Rules to Open Crypto Access for U.S. Banks The reports highlight that the relief in the regulation of crypto assets is a notable move in the crypto expansion in the mainstream. This development also provides banks with a clear way to take part in expanding the overall digital asset ecosystem. Hence, the previously mounted regulatory burden is now lowered to drive innovation and adoption in the crypto landscape. Until now, the state-chartered banking entities in the United States were forced to report to the Federal Reserve Board before releasing any crypto-related service. This requirement followed the guidelines provided back in 2022. Nonetheless, this rule has been withdrawn, while the banking firms will be observed under the standard procedures of the Fed. Thus, the Fed will now treat digital assets just like other conventional financial offerings. In this way, the banks are permitted to issue stablecoins or pay with them without any hindrance. Driving New Wave of Crypto Growth and Adoption with Wider Banking Engagement Apart from that, the eased crypto regulation also allows the opening of crypto-related accounts. Moreover, this makes it convenient to increase liquidity while eliminating hindrances for banking platforms endeavoring to stake claims in the viable stablecoin sector. With this positive regulatory shift, traditional institutions are also allowed to more easily participate in the advancing digital financial world. Hence, these entities will now freely carry out risk management under official oversight. Crypto journalist with years...

Government, economy Positive

加密市场交易展望:美中关税协议、降息与量化宽松推动超级牛市

根据Crypto Rover的推文,近期美中达成关税协议,加上预期的降息和持续的量化宽松,可能为加密市场带来超级牛市。这些宏观经济政策通常会增加市场流动性,并激发交易者风险偏好。交易者应密切关注比特币和主流山寨币的关键支撑与阻力位,预计政策变化后市场波动性将进一步上升(来源:Crypto Rover推特,2025年4月25日)。 (Read More)

Economy Positive

XRP Price Prediction Eyes $100, SHIB Burns 881M, Unstaked Gains Popularity

The post XRP Price Prediction Eyes $100, SHIB Burns 881M, Unstaked Gains Popularity appeared on BitcoinEthereumNews.com.Crypto News XRP (XRP) price prediction hits a bold $100 target, Shiba Inu (SHIB) burns 881M tokens, and Unstaked enters the conversation among popular crypto coins. Crypto markets are once again buzzing with activity as bold forecasts and community actions reignite trader interest. The latest XRP (XRP) price prediction has stunned many with a $100 target set by Alpha Lions Academy founder Edoardo Farina. Meanwhile, Shiba Inu (SHIB) continues its aggressive burn strategy, destroying 881 million tokens through its ShibTorch initiative and fueling long-term deflationary interest. These developments are capturing headlines, but investors are also beginning to notice Unstaked: a sub-cent presale project that is gaining traction thanks to its live rollout and structured roadmap. For those tracking the most popular crypto coins right now, all three are entering new, potentially critical phases. XRP Aims for Long-Term Growth with Ambitious $100 Price Target XRP’s position in the crypto spotlight is intensifying after high-profile investor Edoardo Farina shared his bullish outlook on the coin’s track. The Alpha Lions Academy founder believes that a $1,000 investment today could grow into $50,000 if XRP reaches his target price of $100 per token. Though it currently trades near $2, Farina asserts that XRP is at the center of a “multi-generational pump,” citing its relevance in global finance infrastructure and potential future utility. Farina’s position doesn’t come without scrutiny. Critics have raised eyebrows at the idea of a 5,000% rally pointing out that such gains, though technically feasible, would require significant regulatory clarity and widespread adoption. Still, the optimism has ignited fresh debate around XRP (XRP) price prediction models. Some traders have countered Farina’s outlook with more conservative takes, noting that even a jump to $5 or $10 would still be transformative for long-term holders. Farina has also suggested that owning fewer than 1,000 XRP...

Supply, coin fundamentals Positive

Binance presenta innovadoras cuentas de fondos para profesionales de las criptomonedas

Puntos Clave de la Noticia Gestión de fondos optimizada: Las nuevas cuentas de fondos de Binance permiten a los gestores de activos profesionales consolidar los fondos de los inversores en una o varias cuentas ómnibus, reduciendo las complicaciones administrativas. Mayor transparencia: La introducción de un valor liquidativo (VL) universal por unidad proporciona un seguimiento claro ... Leer más

Exchange Positive

Binance Introduces Innovative Fund Accounts for Crypto Pros

TL;DR Streamlined Fund Management: Binance’s new Fund Accounts let professional asset managers consolidate investor funds into one or multiple omnibus accounts, reducing administrative hassle. Enhanced Transparency: The introduction of a universal net asset value (NAV) per unit provides clear profit and loss tracking, boosting investor confidence through improved clarity. Bridging TradFi and Crypto: By merging ... Read more

Exchange, founders & investors Positive

以太坊巨鲸大量买入:$ETH被低估引发交易热潮

根据Crypto Rover于2025年4月25日发布的信息,链上数据显示以太坊(ETH)正被大额持有者大量买入。巨鲸钱包的资金流入激增,表明当前价格区间内买盘强劲。历史数据表明,巨鲸的集中买入行为常常预示价格将出现大幅波动,对于关注以太坊短线和波段交易的投资者而言,这一信号尤为重要(来源:Crypto Rover,推特)。 (Read More)

Technical analysis, liquidity Positive

CME to launch XRP futures in May: Is XRP headed for a bullish breakout?

XRP, currently trading at $2.18 as of now, has portrayed sturdy price action amid some modest volatility over the last 24 hours. Its trading volumes have dipped modestly by 9.23% to about $4.27 billion, yet the currency’s price has managed to register a 6.27% growth in the last seven days, holding firm over critical support [...]

Technical analysis Positive

Rule by fear

FEAR defines us as a nation. It has been cultivated by choice by the present arbiters of actual authority. Unfortunately, this kind of fear has not been known before. It is insidious and seeps into our daily lives. It dictates our responses to survival in an environment of acute instability and uncertainty. A war of narratives is being waged within the digital domain. It divides us as a society in which every word we utter, every action we take, is being scrutinised, recorded and judged by the deep state.Fear, wrote retired Gen Stanley McChrystal, “pushes us into ideological bunkers”. “What begins as anxiety turns into resentment,” he said, “Resentment hardens into hatred. Hatred strips away our ability to see others as people. The result is a society riven by suspicion and hostility.” Gen McChrystal wrote this in America’s present context. In our case too, there is a need to shake the conscience of those who rule by fear. Let’s say what needs to be said. Otherwise, the arbitrary architects of disorder will win the race to the bottom of the precipice.Indeed, his advice is sound: “When our leaders abandon character, it does more than set a poor example. It accelerates decay. It tells people that principles are optional, that decency is weakness, that rules are for fools. It fosters a culture of fear, where hesitation replaces confidence, cynicism replaces trust, and self-preservation replaces the courage to stand for what is right. When those at the top abandon the standards that hold society together, the rest of us, knowingly or not, follow suit. And when enough people do, the foundation doesn’t just erode. It crumbles. ... {try{this.style.height=this.contentWindow.document.body.scrollHeight+'px';}catch{}}, 100)" width="100%" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" style="height:250px;position:relative" src="https://www.dawn.com/news/card/1896892" sandbox="allow-same-origin allow-scripts allow-popups allow-modals allow-forms"> “The strength of our character is not defined by the absence of fear but our ability to face it, to rise above it and to live, and lead, with integrity. It is in these moments that we show the true measure of our resolve. Fear is not a force to be defeated by force alone, but by the steady adherence to rules that govern both our actions and our hearts. In this, we will find not just a defence against fear, but also the foundation of our strength.”I sincerely hope that this sane advice by an American general will be heeded by our generals too. Leadership by insult and intimidation is a bad strategy. No leader has the licence to demonise those who dare to differ. This is the dilemma that we face in present-day Pakistan. Let’s do what needs to be done.If 2024 has taught us anything, it is to expect the unexpected. The ‘year of elections’ had decisively mixed results for democracy. But despite the disparate outcomes, there was a common point the people expressed: disaffection and a hunger for change. The mandate was stolen from the people on Feb 8 last year. The will of the people was disregarded. A coalition of failed politicians was imposed by the establishment and the deep state. The current dispensation is a puppet regime that lacks legitimacy and can never earn the trust of the people.The stalemate must end. A policy of compassion and empathy is needed.The democratic façades and hybrid rules, which emerged from the national polls of 2002, 2008, 2013 and 2018, have now been replaced by an autocratic oligarchy. The Constitution was not only trampled upon but also mutilated through crudely passed amendments. Due process is blatantly disregarded. The citizens continue to groan under the weight of oppression. The movers and shakers can either persist with this shambolic display of impunity and disregard genuine democracy or admit their folly and correct course by ensuring that a free and fair election is conducted by an independent and impartial election commission so that power is transferred to the genuine representatives of the people. Political stability and legitimacy are the foremost need of the hour.The next big challenge is Balochistan. Late Mir Ghous Baksh Bizenjo was a wise Baloch leader. He said: “You cannot create brotherhood by means of bayonets, butchery, death and destruction. You cannot create a united nation by force.” The use of force and the issue of enforced disappearances has alienated the Baloch youth. Mahrang Baloch and her other young female compatriots have captured the imagination of the Baloch sub-nation. The writ of the state has eroded. The Baloch nationalist parties have lost relevance in the current environment. Akhtar Mengal and his party BNP-M are striving to regain some political space over the issue of the ill-advised incarceration of Baloch women, led by Mahrang Baloch. A multiparty conference issued the Lakpass Declaration after a futile attempt to enter Quetta during a 20-day sit-in in the Mastung-Sariab tunnel, rejected the ‘hard state’ policy and demanded the release of all political prisoners, including female activists, leaders and workers. The state responded by extending the preventive detention of Mahrang and other female activists.This stalemate must end. A policy of compassion and empathy is needed. The state must act as a benign arbiter in the matter of the irritants that have caused such alienation amongst the Baloch people. The saner elements within the Baloch leadership understand the imperative of remaining within the federation and of not getting duped by the so-called ‘independent Balochistan’ slogan. Their strength and future prosperity are linked with Pakistan, and not the hostile and ambitious external forces that are vying for the mineral-rich province. However, the minerals and mines belong to the province. The federal government must ensure provincial autonomy. The Baloch need a healing touch, which should be initiated by the federal government.There is an antidote to fear: the rule of law. “We should never forget the Constitution wasn’t written to restrain citizens’ behaviour. It was written to restrain the government’s behaviour,” said US Senator Rand Paul. Pakistan’s current internal security and cohesion challenges can only be addressed by adherence to the constitutional norms of liberal democracy, the rule of law, fair administration of justice and good governance. The state must mend its behaviour to gain the trust of the citizens.The writer is a former inspector-general of police.Published in Dawn, April 26th, 2025

Human rights, politics Negative

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American football Neutral

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Crime, law and justice Negative

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Natural disasters Negative

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Politics, religious events and festivals Neutral

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Awards and recognitions Neutral

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Elections, government Neutral

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Politics Neutral

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Politics Positive

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Politics, government Negative